6. Sicilian Mafia

Organized by territory and featuring as many as 100 families, the Sicilian mafia dates back to the middle of the 19th century, but didn’t assume its criminal identity until the early part of the 20th century. When Lucky Luciano exported the mafia to the U.S. in the 1930s, their criminal base expanded exponentially, and even today they’re believed to have as many as 2,500 American affiliates.

In Sicily, they came to power and wealth through control of building contracts and soon became a major player in heroin and gun trafficking. Although today they have been challenged by other Italian syndicates, the assassinations of two Italian magistrates in the 1990s reminded everyone that the Sicilian mafia is still a force to be reckoned with.